Apparatus for taking and preserving finger-print impressions.



P. RYAN.

PRESERVII IG FINGER PRINT IMPRESSIONS. APPLICATION FILED MAR.27, I917.

APPARATUS FOR TAKING AND 1,251,115 73 Patentd Dec, 25,1917.

0 2a a a APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27. I917. F 1,25 1 1 1 3 Patented. Dec. 20, 1917. 2 SHEETS-$HET 2- UNI ED srAtrns PATENT orrros- PATRICK RYAN, or NEW YORK, N; Y.

APPARATUS non TAKING AND rnn'snnvme FINGER-PRINTIMPRESSIONS.

ToaZZ-whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. PATRICK zen of the United States, and resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Taking and Preserving Finger- Print Impressions, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My present invention refers to an apparatus for taking and preserving finger print impressions, and more particularly to a device which combines in a single unitary structure a table for supplying an ink film for preparing and applying the ink to the thumb and fingers for registering the impressions, and also to atemporary binding or holding device for cards, sheets, and other recording surfaces, on which data are to be preserved, and particularly the finger print impressions which are prepared for identification purposes. The object of the invention is to assemble in a single appa ratus mechanism with functions substantially similar to those performed by the ink table described and claimed in my former Letters Patent 1,192,796, dated July 25, 1916, table for supplying an ink film for making finger prints, and the paper holder described and claimed in my former Letters Patent 1,198,667, dated September 19, 1916, table for holding a recording surface while finger print impressions are registered thereon; the present improvements having various simplified combinations and arrangements of parts to allow all the necessary operations to be carried out through the use of a simpler and more economical compact arrangement. The invention, therefore, consists essentially in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described and then more particularly pointed out in the claims. p p

In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective viewof my improved apparatus for taking finger prints;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a detail'plan view of the front portion of the main. table and a modified formof clamp for holding the record sheet thereon;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 27, 1917.

RYAN, a citi-v Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

Serial No. 157,597.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the main table; V

Fig. 5 is an end view of the front portion of the table and clamp shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view at 6, 6 on Fig. 1 showing the inner detent for holding the ink table in position;

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail on the line 7, 7 of Fig. 2, and shows the clamping means forholding the table in any one of its posi-' tions of rotation;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the front portion of the main table on the line 8, 8 of Fig. l, and showsthe paper clamp removed to a distance from the front edge of the table, said sectional view being similar to that in View 2, but with the parts located in a different position in relation to each other.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the different figures of the drawing.

1 designates the main table which is supported in a horizontal position by a vertical standard 2, having a base 3, the latter being sufficiently broad and flat to give a sizable support; and said base being provided with a horizontal ribbed arm 4: having a vertical socket 5 entered by a rod 6 that carries on its upper end a horizontal ink table 7 of rectangular or other suitable form. The rod 6 is shown comparatively short as it is not desired to carry the table 7 at any particular height, it being sufficient that it should be only slightly above the level of the arm 4 and base 3, because this table is only intended for the reception and distribution. of the ink in the first instance. It permits the ink to be evenly distributed over' the surface thereof by the use of an ordinary ink roller such as is commonly used with printing presses, and when the ink is thus evenly distributed, it can be passed from the table 7 to the table 8 which is carried above the main table 1 on a curved. supporting ribbed arm9, said table 8 being intended to have the ink spread over the same in the form of a thin light film which enables the ink to be applied to the fingers or other objects which may be pressed against the surface of said table 8 to take the film of'ink off the same and qualify the inked fingers to transfer the ink to another surface which islaid'on the main table 1, to which other surface the ink is thus transferred and on which the impr'e'ssionsof the fingers are made for the purpose of securing a record The main table 1 is securely fastened by 1 screws 11 upon the lower member of the curved arm 9, which arm as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is seen to straddle the table 1, and said lower member being formed with a socket 12 in the end thereof, whose upper side receives the said screws or securing devices 11. The socket 12 is cleft to form two ears 13, through which passes a thumb screw 14-, by means of which the ears 13 are drawn toward each other or released from each other for the purpose of tightening or relaxing the socket clamp upon the smooth upper end 15 of a vertical screw shaft 16 which plays up and down in the main standard 2. Thus it will be seen that the arm 9 can be adjusted horizontally around the upper end 15 of the screw shaft 16 and the table 1 consequently placed in such a position that its front edge may lie at any desired angle with reference to the subject being operated upon or the expert who is using the machine. The screw shaft 16 does not rotate but can be moved up and down vertically, being guided in its movement by an inwardly projecting pin 17 in the wall of the hollow standard 2, which pin enters a vertical longitudinal groove 18 in the screw shaft 16, as shown in Fig. 2 whereby the screw 16 is allowed to move up and down, but is kept from rotating. The screw 16 near its lower end is provided with a pin 19 located horizontally in the vertical slot 18 and which strikes against the pin 1'? when the screw 16 has been lifted so high that any further movement might draw it out of and away from the standard 2, but this danger is eiiectually avoided by the use of the stop pin 19 striking against the guidepin 17.

The up and down movement ofv the screw 16 and the table and other appurtenant parts supported thereon is accomplished through the agency of a revolnble nut 20, which is internally screw-threaded to engage the thread of the screw 16, said nut resting upon the upper end of the standard 2. It may have any preferred exterior form, and may be provided with handles 21 or not, as desired.

If the handles are omitted and the nnthassimply a wheel-like periphery, it will serve with equal eiiiciency. By rotating this nut 20 by hand it will be seen thatit will raise or lower (according to the direction of rotation of nut 20) the screw 16, and will place the table 1 at thedesired height.

The'main standard 2, which has already been referred to as being connected to the base 3, is preferably formed on its lower end with a screw-threaded section 22, which screws into a central boss 23 in the base 3, and on the inner end of the screw-threaded portion 22 inside of the base 3 1 preferably screw a winged nut 24:, thus enabling the-- table being for the time being held securely in the desired position.

The linger inking table 8 already referred to is provided on its under side with a rigid pin 27 which enters a socket 28 in the front end of the upper member of thecurved arm 9. The curved arm which I have said straddles or envelops the rear portion of the table 1 enablesthe finger inking table 8 to be sup- V ported above the table 1, and in a position where it can be conveniently used so that the parts are compactly related together. The pin 27 has thereon a collar 29 which rests on the top of the socket 28, and the lower end of the pin 27 below the collar 29 and inside of the socket 28 is corrugated, fluted, or channeled at 30, as shown in Fig. 6. The wall of the socket 28 is bored horizontally to receive a pin 31 provided with a spring 32 tensioned between a shoulder on the pin and a nut 33 screwed into the wall of the socket, the efi'ect of the spring being to urge the pin '31 inwardly and cause it to engage one or the other of the vertical grooves 30 with a suflicient grasp to hold the pin 27 in position so that it will not easily shift out of place, while at the same time it can readily be adjusted by laying hold of and rotating the table into any other position, because the locking efiect of the pin 31 is readily overcome by a'simple act of manual movementsince the grooves 30 are shallow enough to permit of this. In practice it is necessary to change the position horizontally of the table from time to time and a support designed in this way is of advantage. It will also be noted that the table 8' may be provided with one or more notches or indents to accommodate any stiffness or stubbornness in the fingers of the subject and make it still possible to properly apply the ink thereto so as to get satisfactory finger print impressions. p

The main table 1 is intended to hold a card, sheet, or other surface on which the finger print impressions are to be made for use in identification purposes, said table holding them temporarily during the process ofapplying the fingers theretofor the purpose of making prints or impressions of the lines of the fingers, the fingers'having been previously inked. by applying them tothe surface of the inking table 8 as already explained. Superposed above the table 1 is a clamping bar 34: which is adapted to rest upon a card or sheet of paper that may lie on the surface of table 1 to clamp the same; and it is also adapted to be released when desired from said recording surface. Clamping bar 34 is carried by the links 35 which are pivotally attached by means of pivots 36 to the ears 37 which are secured to the bar 34; near the ends thereof. Said ears 37 are conveniently provided with short handles 38 for lifting the bar when desired. The links 35 extend rearwardly from the bar 3st toward the rear edge of table 1 and are pivoted by means of suitable pivot pins to standards 39 secured rigidly on the rear of the table 1 near the edge thereof. Suitable spiral springs 10 are attached to the links 35 and the standards 39 at suitable points so that these springs may have the function of holding the links 35 either in their active or idle position, that is to say, either in the position in which they hold the bar 34: tightly upon a card or sheet, or in the position in which the bar is lifted away from the card or sheet. Said bar 34:, as will be noted, is provided on. its front edge with certain notches or recesses which adapt it especially to serve as a guide and a positioning means for the fingers of the subject.

A modified form of clamping bar is shown in Fig. 3, the same being designated by the reference character 41 (Figs. 3 and 5). Bar 11 in like manner with bar 34 is provided on its front edge with notches or recesses to adapt it to serve as a guide and positioning means for the fingers of the subject. The links 35, springs 40, and posts 19 are however dispensed with, and one end of the bar 41 is hinged at 12 to a hinged member 13 secured by screws or other devices le to the underside of the table 1', said hinged member 43 having an inclined upwardlyprojecting rest as against which the clamping bar 11 may rest in a vertically inclined position when it is not in use and when it is desired to lift it away from the'table 1. Bar is furthermore provided with a suitable handle 16 for its convenient manipulation. The edge of the table 1 opposite to'the hingedmember 12 is provided with a'catch 4:7 pivoted'at48 to a-sooket49* catch having its lip 50 designed to overhang and engage the end ofthe bar el whenthe latter isplaced inactive clamping position upon a'card or sheet; A spring 51 is carried'by the pivot48 and arranged 'in such a manner'as to normally hold the'lip 50 in engagement with the end of the bar 4.1. Disengagement is promptly and quickly ef-' fectedat any time by pressing down upon the catch 47 and releasing the lip 50 fromthe bar v41.

It is commonly the case to use a sheet on I which various rows'of impressions areto be made, and hence it isdesirable to read ust the position of the sheet after the printing of the'impression of the fingers of one hand,

and also to keep the unused part of the paper free from contact with ink or anything else which might defacelt whlle lmpressions are being made, and hence I bend a portion of the sheet over the frontedg'e of the table 1' and turn it underneath the same toward the standard 2 and out of the-way. In orderthat the sheet may be so deflected Iuse a shield or deflector 52 consisting of an angular sheet ofmetaloccupying an incllned position 'beneatlr the edge of'the table 1, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8, the upper edge of said deflector 52 being curved at 53 to conform substantially to the'round shape ofa rod 5% secured to the front edge of the'table 1 or made integral therewith, or the rounded thickened front edge of table 1, said curved upper part 53 of the deflector 52 having-a sharpened inner edge 55 which bites or grips down over the edge of the table 1 contiguous to the round rod 54, so as to firmly hold the record sheet near the extreme front edge of table 1, said edge 55 being bent slightly beyond the curve of part 53'so as to exert a cam effect. This clamping position'of the deflector is shown in Fig. 2, while the re leased and removed position of the same, so

that the paper can be taken out or-adjusted, is indicated in Fig. 8, where the deflector is shown removed at a short distance from the edge of table 1. The deflector has at each end inwardly-projecting integral members 56- (see Fig. 4), which are slotted at 57, the

56 and the rear end to some suitable fined part, as table 1, so that the effect of the spring or springs .59 .isto normally hold the deflector with its curved part 53 overlapping the rod 54 and its edge55 in contact with the'top surfacecfthe table The'agency' which I find most convenientto use for the purpose of moving the deflector back and forth for clamping and releasing consists of a handle 60 securely fastened on a trans 'verse rod 61 which is supported in bearings 62 fastened to the underside of the table 1 (see Fig. 4). Rod 61 is provided with crank arms 63, preferably two of them, which are slotted at 6% to engage pins 65 projecting horizontally from castings 66 fastened to the deflector members 56 near the inner ends of the same. It will thus be seen that by moving the handle 60 the shaft 61 will be oscillated, and likewise the cranks 63, which by virtue of their engagement with the pins (35 will act upon the members 56 and cause the deflector 52 to be moved outwardly, the return movement being usually accomplished through the resiliency of the spring or springs 59 as already explained. lVhen the deflector, under the action of the handle 60, has been moved outwardly into the position shown in Fig. 8, the record sheet may be bent over the edge of the table, that is to say, over the enlarged rounded member 54, which is a great, improvement over a small thin metallic edge because the paper will not be broken or harmed when bent over a curved edge of some substantial thickness and thrust backwardly behind the deflector 52, for the parts are so shaped and arranged that there is plenty of room between the deflector 52 and the enlarged rounded member 54: when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 8 to permit of this movement of the paper. If then the deflector is allowed to resume its inner position under the influence of the spring 59, it will effectually clamp the paper upon the top surface of the table 1 and hold I the sheet in position for another application of the human fingers or other things which are to be imprinted thereon, the edge 55 of the curved portion 58 of the deflector 5'2 tightly gripping the front portion of the sheet in the manner indicated 111 Fig. The device will, therefore, be found to be very efficient and useful in enabling a card or sheet to be kept clean and yet to expose successive portions of its surface from time to time for the printing of impressions thereon.

The operation of my improved finger print apparatus will be evident from the foregoing description of the construction and arrangement of the parts without the need of additional explanation except to say that by means of this apparatus I am enabled to combine in a single small compact unitary structure all the features which heretofore were .used in the separate machines forming the subject matter of my former Letters Patent hereinabove referred to, at the same time modifying and rearranging various parts, adding others thereto, and presenting a novel and useful combination having all the attractive practical features which I have just explained, and many new ones. It will be understood moreover that there may be many changes in the precise construction and combination of the parts without exceeding the scope of the appended claims, and I do not wish to be restricted, therefore, to the exact specimen illustrated and herein described, but reserve the liberty of making permissible changes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus for taking and preserving fin er print impressions, the combination with a standard, of a record-surface supporting table carried by said standard, a finger-inking table located above the other table, and a curved support for the finger-inking table which partially embraces the record-surface supporting table and is carried beneath the latter table.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a main support, of a record-surface carrying table, a finger-inking table, a curved arm embracing the record-surface supporting table and carrying the finger-inking table at a point over the other table, and an ink-distributing table carried by the main supporting means.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a main table on which the finger print impressions are made, of a table for inking the fingers, and a curved arm supporting said latter table and provided with a socket which receives a pin attached to the finger inking table, said socket being provided with a spring detent for holding the finger-inking table in any desired position of adjustment.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a surface on which the finger print impressions are made, a screw-shaft supporting the same, a hollow standard carrying said shaft and having a base, an inking table located above the main table, a curved support for the inking table which embraces the main table and is connected to the screw that supports the main table.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a main table for carrying a recording surface, a curved arm to which said table is secured, the lower member of which arm has a split socket, a vertical reciprocatory screw having its upper end in said socket, a hollow standard for permitting the reciprocation thereon of the screw, a nut on the screw for regulating its up and down movement, and an ink-dis tributing table carried by the aforesaid curved arm and adjustably situated at a point above the main table.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a main table, a curved arm having two parallel horizontal members which lie on opposite sides of the main table, the lower member being provided with a flexible socket having a set screw, and the upper member being provided with a socket having a spring detent, an ink distributing table having a pin entering the upper socket and held adjustably by the spring detent, a vertically reciprocating screw whose upper end is held by the vertical socket in the said lower member, means for carrying said screw, and means for moving it up and down.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with a main table for carrying a recording surface, a supporting screw beneath it, a hollow standard which receives said screw and is provided with a pin entering a vertical groove in the screw, a rotating nut on the screw and bearing against the upper end of the hollow standard which receives said screw, said standard being provided with a pin entering a vertical groove in the screw.

8. In an apparatus for taking and preserving finger print impressions, the combination with a main table for supporting a recording surface, a clamp for holding a paper sheet or other surface on said table, said clamp having its front edge formed with notches to enable it to serve as a guide for the lingers, one end of said clamp being hinged at the edge of the table, a pivoted catch at the other edge of the table for holding the clamp when resting on the recording surface, and means for supporting the clamp when it is lifted.

9. In an apparatus for taking and preserving finger print impressions, the combination with a main table for supporting a recording surface, a clamp for holding a paper sheet or other surface on said table, said clamp having it frontedge formed with notches to enable it to serve as a guide for the fingers, one end of said clamp being hinged at the other edge of the table, a pivoted catch at the other edge of the table for holding the clamp when resting on the recording surface, and means for supporting the clamp when it is lifted, together with a shield or deflector for turning a portion of the sheet underneath the edge of the table.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with a table, of a shield or deflector occupying an inclined position beneath the edge of the table and having a curved upper portion embracing the rounded front edge of the table, the inner edge Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, I

of said curved portion being sharpened to enable it to bite against the edge of the top of the table, and means for moving the deflector toward and away from the table to permit the introduction of the recording sheet behind the same.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination with a main table having its front edge provided with a rod-like thickness, of a shield or deflector for holding a portion of the record sheet underneath the table, said shield or deflector being in an inclined position beneath the table and having an upper curved portion which embraces the rounded edge of the table and is provided with a sharpened inner edge adapted to fit tightly upon the paper on the top of the table, and a longitudinal shaft provided with a handle for moving the deflector back and forth with relation to the table edge to permit the introduction of the paper.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with a main table having its front edge provided with a rod-like thickness, of a shield or deflector'for holding a portion of the record sheet underneath the table, said shield or deflector being in an inclined position beneath the rounded edge of the table and is provided with a sharpened inner edge adapted to fit tightly upon the paper on the top of the table, and a longitudinal shaft provided with a handle for moving the deflector back and forth with relation to the table edge to permit the introduction of the paper, and a spring for returning the deflector into contact with the table edge after it has been removed therefrom in manipulating the record.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with a main recording table, of a clamp located transversely above the same and hinged at one end, a catch pivoted at the other end of the table for engaging the free end of the clamp and holding it down upon a sheet, or card, an inclined support for holding the clamp in an inclined position when lifted, and a movable shield or deflector at the front edge of the table for protecting a portion of the sheet which is bent underneath the table, said deflector having guides, means for reciprocating said deflector, and a spring for returning it to clamping position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my signature.

PATRICK RYAN.

Washington, D. G. 

